Re: how to simplify sums with constant subterms?

Thanks Barton, works great.


I have one more question at this time:


how to turn something like

exp(-sum(log(a[i]), i, 1, n) / n)

into something like

1/product(a[i], i, 1, n)^(1/n)

or

product(a[i], i, 1, n)^(-1/n)


Thanks for any tips,


Claude


On 17 August 2026 13:17:03 CEST, Barton Willis <[email protected]> wrote:
>Not so easy to find in the user documentation, I think:
>
>
>(%i1) display2d : false$
>
>(%i2) declare(sum,linear)$
>
>(%i3) sum(x + a[i], i, 1, n);
>
>(%o3) n*x+'sum(a[i],i,1,n)
>(%i4)
>
>
>If you all have more questions, please ask.  Also, if you search the mailing list archives, I think you will find other references to Maximum Likelihood Estimation.
>
>--Barton
>________________________________
>From: Claude Heiland-Allen <[email protected]>
>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2026 5:34 AM
>To: Maxima-discuss <[email protected]>
>Subject: [Maxima-discuss] how to simplify sums with constant subterms?
>
>Caution: Non-NU Email
>
>
>Dear list,
>
>
>Maxima simplifies
>
>sum(x, i, 1, n)
>
>to
>
>n * x
>
>which is great.
>
>
>But I have not figured out how to get Maxima to simplify
>
>sum(x + a[i], i, 1, n)
>
>to
>
>n * x + sum(a[i], i, 1, n)
>
>
>Any ideas/suggestions?
>
>
>(This is in the context of Maximum Likelihood Estimation, where
>eventually I want to solve more complicated equations for x given n and
>a[i].)
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Claude
>--
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